herodotus

the matter say:--while Oroites and another Persian whose name wasMitrobates, ruler of the province of Daskyleion,[107] were sitting atthe door of the king's court, they came from words to strife with oneanother; and as they debated their several claims to excellence,Mitrobates taunting Oroites said: "Dost /thou/[108] count thyself aman, who didst never yet win for the king the island of Samos, whichlies close to thy province, when it is so exceedingly easy of conquestthat one of the natives of it rose up against the government withfifteen men-at-arms and got possession of the island, and is nowdespot of it?" Some say that because he heard this and was stung bythe reproach, he formed the desire, not so much to take vengeance onhim who said this, as to bring Polycrates to destruction at all costs,since by reason of him he was ill spoken of: 121, the lesser numberhowever of those who tell the tale say that Oroites sent a herald toSamos to ask for something or other, but what it was is not mentioned;and Polycrates happened to be lying down in the men's chamber[109] ofhis palace, and Anacreon also of Teos was present with him: andsomehow, whether it was by intention and because he made no account ofthe business of Oroites, or whether some chance occurred to bring itabout, it happened that the envoy of Oroites came into his presenceand spoke with him, and Polycrates, who chanced to be turned away[110]towards the wall, neither turned round at all nor made any answer.122. The cause then of the death of Polycrates is reported in thesetwo different ways, and we may believe whichever of them we please.Oroites however, having his residence at that Magnesia which issituated upon the river Maiander, sent Myrsos the son of Gyges, aLydian, to Samos bearing a message, since he had perceived the designsof Polycrates. For Polycrates was the first of the Hellenes of whom wehave any knowledge, who set his mind upon having command of the sea,excepting Minos the Cnossian and any other who may have had command ofthe sea before his time. Of that which we call mortal race Polycrateswas the first; and he had great expectation of becoming ruler of Ioniaand of the islands. Oroites accordingly, having perceived that he hadthis design, sent a message to him and said thus: "Oroites toPolycrates saith as follows: I hear that thou art making plans to getgreat power, and that thou hast not wealth according to thy highthoughts. Now therefore if thou shalt do as I shall say, thou wilt dowell for thyself on the one hand, and also save me from destruction:for king Cambyses is planning death for me, and this is reported to meso that I cannot doubt it. Do thou then carry away out of danger bothmyself and with me my wealth; and of this keep a part for thyself anda part let me keep, and then so far as wealth may bring it about, thoushalt be ruler of all Hellas. And if thou dost not believe that whichI say about the money, send some one, whosoever happens to be mosttrusted by thee, and to him I will show it." 123. Polycrates havingheard this rejoiced, and was disposed to agree; and as he had a great